Thomson

It’s a heck of a way to run a pre-election campaign. On the eve of an expected election, politicians usually spend their time playing up good news, downplaying the bad, shaking hands and kissing babies.

Gallery: The global battle for workers

United States: With higher unemployment than Canada, one would think Americans would be lining up for jobs in Alberta. But the types of workers Alberta needs are also scarce south of the border.
North Dakota is booming. Companies there are facing a big shortage of skilled manpower for fracking, drilling and well servicing. It is much easier for skilled workers to move from Minneapolis to Minot than to cross the border and head for Fort McMurray.

Photograph by: Bloomberg
, edmontonjournal.com

Alberta employers building major energy projects are struggling to fill jobs in the trades, engineering and project management, and face plenty of competition.

Developments in Australia, South America and the Gulf States — many led by Canadian companies — are offering opportunities to Canada’s best and brightest engineers, tradespeople and experienced managers with a desire to work elsewhere. They are also attracting the types of skilled people who might have considered working in Alberta, but decided on other provinces or countries.

United States: With higher unemployment than Canada, one would think Americans would be lining up for jobs in Alberta. But the types of workers Alberta needs are also scarce south of the border.
North Dakota is booming. Companies there are facing a big shortage of skilled manpower for fracking, drilling and well servicing. It is much easier for skilled workers to move from Minneapolis to Minot than to cross the border and head for Fort McMurray.